Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-m6dg7 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-17T13:15:27.938Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Forage Quality and Animal Performance as Influenced by Quackgrass (Agropyron repens) Control in Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) with Pronamide

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 June 2017

T. E. Dutt
Affiliation:
Dep. Agron., Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706
R. G. Harvey
Affiliation:
Dep. Agron., Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706
R. S. Fawcett
Affiliation:
Dep. Bot. and Plant Path., Iowa St. Univ., Ames, IA 50010
N. A. Jorgensen
Affiliation:
Dep. Dairy Sci., Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706
H. J. Larsen
Affiliation:
Dep. Dairy Sci., Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706
D. A. Schlough
Affiliation:
Ashland Exp. Farm, Ashland, WI 54806

Abstract

Fall applications of pronamide [3,5-dichloro(N-1,1-dimethyl-2-propynyl)benzamide] control or suppress quackgrass [Agropyron repens (L.) Beauv.] in established alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Studies were initiated to evaluate benefits of pronamide usage in areas where quackgrass is a problem. Alfalfa swards severely infested with quackgrass were treated with pronamide. Forage quality of first cutting alfalfa was significantly improved with pronamide usage, but second and third cutting forage quality was not greatly affected. First cutting hay from pronamide-treated and untreated areas was fed to goats and dairy cows in feeding trials. Animal intake of total forage dry matter, digestible dry matter, and digestible crude protein was increased with pronamide usage. A reduction in need for supplemental protein, an increase in efficiency in dry matter conversion into milk, and a 20% increase in milk production resulted from controlling quackgrass in alfalfa with pronamide.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © 1979 by the Weed Science Society of America 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Literature Cited

1. A.O.A.C. 1970. Official Methods of Analysis (11th ed.). Association of Analytical Chemists. Washington D.C. Google Scholar
2. Baumgardt, B. R., Byer, W. J., Jumah, H. F., and Kreuger, C. R. 1964. Digestion in the steer, goat, and artificial rumen as measures of forage and nutritive value. J. Dairy Sci. 47:160164.Google Scholar
3. Carlson, W. C., Lignowski, E. M., and Hopen, H. J. 1975. The mode of action of pronamide. Weed Sci. 23:155161.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
4. Crampton, E. W. 1957. Interrelations between digestible nutrient and energy content, voluntary dry matter intake, and the overall feeding value of forages. J. Anim. Sci. 16:546552.Google Scholar
5. Crampton, E. W., Donefer, E., and Lloyd, L. E. 1960. A nutritive value index for forages. J. Anim. Sci. 19:538544.Google Scholar
6. Fawcett, R. S., Harvey, R. G., Schlough, D. A., and Block, I. R. 1978. Quackgrass (Agropyron repens) control in established alfalfa (Medicago sativa) with pronamide. Weed Sci. 26:193198.Google Scholar
7. Glover, J., Duthie, D. W., and French, M. H. 1957. The apparent digestibility of crude protein by the ruminant. I. As synthesis of the results of digestibility trials with herbage and mixed feeds. J. Agric. Sci. 48:373378.Google Scholar
8. Harvey, R. G. and Baker, C. R. 1974. Influence of herbicides on couch bud development. Weed Res. 14:5763.Google Scholar
9. Harvey, R. G. and Connor, S. R. 1971. Selective control of quackgrass in alfalfa with RH-315. Proc. North Cent. Weed Control Conf. 25:6869.Google Scholar
10. Holter, J. A. and Reid, J. T. 1959. Relationship between the concentration of crude protein and apparently digestible protein in forages. J. Anim. Sci. 18:13391349.Google Scholar
11. Ingalls, J. R., Thomas, J. W., Benne, E. J., and Tesar, M. 1965. Comparative response of wether lambs to several cuttings of alfalfa, birdsfoot trefoil, bromegrass and reed canarygrass. J. Anim. Sci. 24:11591164.Google Scholar
12. Peterson, R. L. and Smith, L. W. 1971. Effects of N-(1,1-dimethylpropynyl)-3,5-dichlorobenzamide on the anatomy of Agropyron repens . Weed Res. 11:8487.Google Scholar
13. Reid, J. T., Kennedy, W. K., Turk, K. L., Slack, S. T., Trumberger, G. W., and Murphy, R. P. 1959. Symposium on forage evaluation: I. What is forage quality from the animal standpoint? Agron. J. 51:213216.Google Scholar
14. Smith, L. W., Peterson, R. L., and Horton, R. F. 1971. Effects of a dimethylpropynyl benzamide herbicide on quackgrass rhizomes. Weed Sci. 19:174177.Google Scholar
15. Spahr, E. L., Kesler, E. M., Bratzler, J. W., and Ashko, J. B. 1961. Effect of stage of maturity at first cutting on quality of forages. J. Dairy Sci. 44:503510.Google Scholar
16. Staples, G. E. and Dinusson, E. W. 1951. The relative accuracy between seven-day and ten-day collection periods in digestion trials. J. Anim. Sci. 10:244.Google Scholar
17. Sullivan, J. T. 1962. Evaluation of forage crops by chemical analyses. A critique. Agron. J. 54:511515.Google Scholar
18. Tilley, J. M. A. and Terry, R. A. 1963. A two-stage technique for the In vitro digestion of forage crops. J. Br. Grassl. Soc. 18:104.Google Scholar
19. Van Soest, P. J. 1963. The use of detergents in the analysis of fibrous feeds. II. A rapid method for the determination of fiber and lignin. J. Assoc. Off. Anal. Chem. 46:829835.Google Scholar
20. Van Soest, P. J. 1965. Symposium on factors influencing the voluntary intake of herbage by ruminants: Voluntary intake in relation to chemical composition and digestibility. J. Anim. Sci. 24:834843.Google Scholar
21. Van Soest, P. J. 1967. Development of a comprehensive system of feed analysis and its application to forages. J. Anim. Sci. 26:119128.Google Scholar
22. Van Soest, P. J. and Wine, R. H. 1967. Use of detergents in the analysis of fibrous feeds. II. Determination of plant cell wall constituents. J. Assoc. Off. Anal. Chem. 50:5055.Google Scholar